If they defeat the Dallas Cowboys, it will be their first victory of the Chip Kelly era against an opponent with a number higher than zero in the win column (1 p.m., FOX, WIP 94.1-FM).

A setback at Lincoln Financial Field would be the Eagles’ ninth straight home loss, tying the club record set in 1936-37. Worse, the Eagles would only have one winless team left on the remainder of the schedule, assuming the New York Giants continue their dive.

Advertisement

Now that’s pressure.

Additionally, the Eagles and the Cowboys are knotted for the NFC East lead with identical records.

Unless they tie, one will exit a winner in a year where the division is like one of those wild and crazy parties where they let anyone in.

“It’s a big game because whoever wins will be ahead of the other in the division,” Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin said. “It’s a big game because it’s at home. And it’s a big game because we don’t play them again until Week 16. So there’s a lot of reasons why it’s a big game. Right now we control our destiny. Sorry to be cliché but every game is big. This one also is big because this is the one we’re playing.”

Michael Vick announced during the week that quarterback Nick Foles would get the football Sunday. The story Vick is sticking to is that his ailing hamstring doesn’t give the Eagles a better chance to win than with Foles.

While Foles is coming off NFC offensive player of the week honors, the Cowboys are a better football team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the only NFL team Foles has beaten. Even Foles, who dropped three touchdown passes on the Bucs, can see how he needs to improve.

“I think just continue to be efficient,” Foles said. “We had a little lull after we scored that first touchdown and you really just want to keep the ball moving. It’s just playing the game smart and just trusting what we do out here (at practice) and in the film room and taking it out to the field.”

The Cowboys could be without their best player, defensive end DeMarcus Ware (quadriceps), and their top running back, DeMarco Murray (knee). They’re listed as doubtful.

On the other hand, quarterback Tony Romo is feeling it, having thrown 14 TD passes this season. Six of those passes have gone to Dez Bryant (6-2, 220) and three to tight end Jason Witten (6-5, 261). Their size alone poses matchup issues.

It’s anything but sobering just imagining Romo studying film of the Eagles, who have statistically the worst defense in the league.

“I think more than anything you just keep getting better playing the position,” Romo said. “You start to understand what defenses are trying to do and you just attack them where they’re weak. If you do that repeatedly over time you’re going to give them trouble. I think that’s all you’re trying to do as a quarterback.”

The Eagles obviously want to get after Romo with a versatile pass rush keyed by Barwin, who has three quarterback drops. Eight teammates also have a sack. But they need to pressure in a disciplined way as Romo is a master of improvisation.

With the Eagles, the best defense is the offense and the special teams.

On special teams, the Birds better get a handle on kick returner Dwayne Harris, the NFC special teams player of the week. Harris had 222 combined return yards, including an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 90-yard kickoff return in the Cowboys’ 31-16 win over the Washington Redskins.

When the Eagles have the ball, look for them to ride the back of running back LeSean McCoy, the league’s leading rusher. Theoretically that will free breakaway receiver DeSean Jackson, who has five TDs and averages six receptions per game.

The Cowboys’ defense almost is as ordinary as the Eagles’. The key is Foles and the decisions he makes against Dallas and veteran defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who Kelly tormented while coaching Oregon when Kiffin was calling the defenses for his son at USC.

“NFC East teams have a tendency to play different when they play each other,” Eagles center Jason Kelce said. “The games matter more so you don’t want to be as predictable. So there will probably be a couple of blitzes dialed up on this game that we haven’t seen from them in the past. You’ve just got to be more in tune and ready for the unexpected.”

This could be the Eagles’ first quality win. Or it could be a horrific downer.

Though the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry may be in a state of flux, the veterans seem to know the deal.

“You can tell there’s a little bit more excitement in the locker room,” Barwin said. “And it’s a division game. We’re tied for first place so I expect it to be a playoff-type atmosphere at Lincoln on Sunday.”